Lorenzo relieved after Barcelona win

Yamaha rider Lorenzo and Dovizioso swapped the lead on a couple of occasions early on in the Barcelona race, and ran nose-to-tail until just beyond half-distance, when the Italian lost his bike's front end at La Caixa and crashed.

"It was a really difficult race because the temperature was so hot and my front tyre was sliding very much," the Spaniard said.

"Dovizioso was behind me for a lot of laps and was pushing me very hard. I thought he could remain there until the very last lap... But he crashed and I won."

Lorenzo, who missed out on victory in last year's race after his team-mate Valentino Rossi passed him with a sensational last corner move, said that victory at what he classes as his local circuit gave him a special feeling.

"Of course it is very special," he added. "Last year I was happy [to finish second], but not completely happy because Valle beat me in the last corner. I'm glad I can finally win in my home circuit."

Lorenzo's win, his fifth of the season, further increased his world championship lead to 52 points with 10 races remaining.